It’s an unfortunate reality that we all know someone who either has cancer, is in remission from cancer, or has lost their battle with cancer. Especially as you near 60, you can’t help but wonder when the day might come that it’s you, sitting in the doctor’s office receiving your own diagnosis.
Despite the omnipresence of this disease in our world, early screening and preventive care remain out of reach for many Alaskans. Even when people know the importance of screening, access and affordability can often stand in the way of timely care.
Take colorectal cancer, for example. Despite the fact that it is one of the most treatable forms of cancer we face, Alaska is the sixth deadliest place for colorectal cancer in the U.S. The key to improving this is early detection. If caught early, colorectal cancer has a 91 percent five-year survival rate, but less than 68 percent of Alaskans are up to date on colorectal cancer screening – more than 10 percent below national screening benchmarks.
This can be due to several factors, such as the need for increased education on the importance of screening and access to routine care. Additionally, traditional screenings for colon cancer, like colonoscopies, are often perceived as uncomfortable and invasive and require a visit to a specialized doctor, procedure prep, anesthesia, and time off work.
Luckily, medical innovation never sleeps, and there’s a new, more accessible way to get tested for colorectal cancer. Guardant Health has just released the Shield test – a first-of-its-kind, FDA-approved blood-based screening test that allows you to be tested for colorectal cancer indicators with just a quick blood draw. This test is covered by Medicare and VA Community Care and can be administered at your local doctor’s office – no time off work, no specialists, no anesthesia
Of course, the important thing is just that you get tested. No matter how you choose to get screened, don’t put it off. Cancer doesn’t wait.
I’ll admit, I’ve always been the kind of person who puts off seeing my doctor, especially when it doesn’t feel especially urgent or necessary. But the older I get, the more I realize how important it is to take care of myself before something goes wrong.
Knowing there’s now a simple blood test for colorectal cancer makes it a lot easier to take that first step – and is a reminder that protecting our health doesn’t have to feel out of reach.
Wayne DeVore is a business owner based in Wasilla, Alaska.
